A man who claims to have the world’s smallest penis has opened up about his sex life as experts explain what medically qualifies as a micropenis.
The term "micropenis" is often thrown around as an insult or joke, but medically, it has a very specific definition.
The rare condition affects around 0.6 percent of the global population, meaning the vast majority of men fall well within the average range.
In the US, the average erect penis size is about 5.6 inches, according to World Population Review. By contrast, a micropenis is medically defined as measuring 3.67 inches or less when erect.
What causes a micropenis and how is it diagnosed
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a micropenis can be caused by fetal testosterone deficiency, which occurs when there is not enough testosterone during development in the womb.
In some cases, the condition can be diagnosed during infancy and treated with hormone therapy to help promote more typical growth.
However, that option was not available for Michael Phillips, a 36-year-old man from North Carolina who says he fits the medical definition and believes he has the smallest penis in the world.
In a resurfaced interview with IGV Official, Michael admitted the condition has been difficult to accept. “I’m still not sure that I have yet fully come to terms with having a micropenis,” he said.
‘I just stopped trying to date’
Michael said his condition has had a major impact on his dating life and confidence.
“The biggest challenges I’ve faced [are] having a sexual relationship and still being a virgin and being able to talk about it openly because of how embarrassing of a topic it is,” he explained.
Speaking to The Sun, he revealed: “I have had a couple experiences of having sex and wasn’t able to get it in and everything. From there I just stopped trying to date and lost interest in it.”
Despite this, Michael is now trying to raise awareness and encourage others living with the condition.
“You can choose to be happy just being here in this great world we live in,” he said. “Find people you are confident in sharing your problem with, and they might surprise you with how understanding and accepting they are.”
Another man shares the emotional toll of rejection
Michael’s experience mirrors the story of another man with a micropenis who spoke anonymously on Joe Santagato and Greg Dybec’s podcast, Other People’s Lives.
The 26-year-old caller described realizing his anatomy was different as a child and said the fear of rejection shaped his dating life.
“I cut it off because I was nervous and scared,” he said, explaining how he often ended relationships early. “That’s how it was for a long time. Still is, to be honest.”
After finally opening up to a woman he had “proper feelings for,” he sensed her discomfort despite her efforts to be kind.
“She knew it was terrible, which she tried her hardest not to tell me,” he said. “But she’s an honest person as well, and I could tell... I don’t blame a woman for thinking, ‘I don’t want this.’ I don’t blame that at all.”
Although they remained friends, a comment she made during a movie later resurfaced the pain.
“Oh, I’m scared now, I’m nervous,” she said during a sexual scene, a moment he described as heartbreaking. “She’s never dealt with something like this before... so obviously, now it’s her head. She’s scared, and I [start] to feel bad for them.”
The caller acknowledged the reality that men with the condition face. “If it’s not going to work out because of that [his condition], then I understand,” he said, while also questioning when and how to disclose it.
“If you can, you should tell the woman, but when do you tell her?”